R2OK!

Toggy tea slurper · Guest

I think all the reporters, not just the BBC ones are enjoying their free holiday in Portugal so it's no wonder they want to keep the story going.

I notice they don't seem so keen to report from Gaza regarding the plight of Alan Johnston.

mark occomore · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 9955 Location: UK

John W · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 3367 Location: Warwickshire, UK

I had (my first) e-mail relating to missing Madeleine today, seems to have originated from a mail sent/updated last Saturday. It relates to her distinctive right eye abnormality which will be almost unique and aid identification.

It wasn't sent to me by a close friend but someone I was on a course with last year. He sent it to 110 people Rolling Eyes

Why so much attention to this abduction? I think the Portuguese police methods have upset the British press and British police authorities. I'm sure the Portuguese police are working very hard, but their methods meant that nobody was really looking for the little girl during the crucial first 24 hours, and for days nobody really knew if the police had identified and interviewed everyone who was in the Tapas bar that night.

Indeed, do we know that now? Are all the other British tourists who were there not allowed to talk to British press on camera in Portugal?

John W

seymourwhitebits · Joined: 31 Mar 2007 Posts: 560 Location: Birmingham

firewirefred · Guest

Talking about her may help find her (if she is still alive - which must now be a fading hope) but what about all the other kids who go missing? Shall we talk about all of them as well? And will it help find them?

I think we should leave the Portugal police to get on with their job and refuse to buy newspapers that perpetuate this media feast.

Behind Geddon's Wall · Posted: Fri May 18, 2007 11:30 am Post subject:

I just know that I'm going to get yelled at for what I'm about to post but here goes (deep breath)

It's the Diana syndrome again, the papers, especially the red-tops have found a cause for which they can appear to be working in the public interest, but it is just a cynical ploy to sell more papers. The populace are whipped up into a feeding frenzy, desperate for news, half truths, even falsehood will do.

The Portugese police have a job to do, by the nature of their country, they do it in a different manner to us, and we cannot impose our methods on them. Let us please not impose our tabloid excesses on them.
_________________
Geddon

You simply mustn't blame yourself -- the days were perfect
And so were exactly what I was born to spoil
For I am the Rider to the World's End
Bound across the cinder causeway
From the furnace to the quarry
Through the fields of oil

Cherskiy · Posted: Fri May 18, 2007 11:46 am Post subject:

Ian Robinson · Posted: Fri May 18, 2007 12:10 pm Post subject:

No argument from me either. I'm getting rather fed up of this mass hysteria that arrives everytime something like this happens. Radio 5Live have just had a lengthy interview with some Hampshire businessman who's giving out 1000s of pictures of Madeline. I wonder if he does that for every missing person? Or just those in the media spotlight.

And the hounding (by Sky News in particular) of anyone who even walks past a Portugese police station in a funny way is sickening.

And to top it all, I've even been told off by my boss for not wanting to discuss this in the office! FFS - the world's gone mad.

Behind Geddon's Wall · Posted: Fri May 18, 2007 12:37 pm Post subject:

I reallt did think that I would get castigated for my comments. Thanks, Guys.
_________________
Geddon

You simply mustn't blame yourself -- the days were perfect
And so were exactly what I was born to spoil
For I am the Rider to the World's End
Bound across the cinder causeway
From the furnace to the quarry
Through the fields of oil

Toggy tea slurper · Guest

Behind Geddon's Wall · Posted: Fri May 18, 2007 1:54 pm Post subject:

Toggy, I think a lot of us are doing our quiet bit for Alan. I always ask Mrs G if there is any news, and although neither of us are involved in any way with the media, here's a man doing his job, in the same way that I am. and gets kidnapped for it.

God Bless you Alan and keep you safe.
_________________
Geddon

You simply mustn't blame yourself -- the days were perfect
And so were exactly what I was born to spoil
For I am the Rider to the World's End
Bound across the cinder causeway
From the furnace to the quarry
Through the fields of oil

Toggy tea slurper · Guest

I know there are people doing their bit for Alan, for example his picture is permanetly on the BBC news website and that is wonderful.
I was meaning that when you compare the 2 stories the coverage he gets is nearly zero, like in some peoples eyes he isn't as important as Madeline but they are equally as important as each other for their nearest and dearest.

I do hope they find Madeline soon but I do wish the press would pull back a bit.

Ian Robinson · Posted: Fri May 18, 2007 5:18 pm Post subject:

Cherskiy · Posted: Fri May 18, 2007 7:33 pm Post subject:

Helen May · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19382 Location: Cheshire

mark occomore · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 9955 Location: UK

Now they have admitted they are to blame in one way or another.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6693463.stm

firewirefred · Guest

That is a daft comment Mark. All parents will feel this way after what has happened. They would be rubbish parents if they did not.

Behind Geddon's Wall · Posted: Tue May 29, 2007 7:45 am Post subject:

What on earth good is an audience with the Pope going to do?

An old man whose organisation are notorious for molesting kids (allegedly), knows nothing of modern life.

Who is looking after the other 2 while the parents are jetsetting round europe?
_________________
Geddon

You simply mustn't blame yourself -- the days were perfect
And so were exactly what I was born to spoil
For I am the Rider to the World's End
Bound across the cinder causeway
From the furnace to the quarry
Through the fields of oil

gfloyd · Posted: Tue May 29, 2007 7:59 am Post subject:

Toggy tea slurper · Guest

I hardly think the pope knows where she is though.

gfloyd · Posted: Tue May 29, 2007 8:09 am Post subject:

Toggy tea slurper · Guest

Obviously

gfloyd · Posted: Tue May 29, 2007 8:27 am Post subject:

Behind Geddon's Wall · Posted: Tue May 29, 2007 10:06 am Post subject:

Helen May · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19382 Location: Cheshire

I'm afraid I can't see why they should be granted an audience with the Pope either. What about all the other parents whose children have gone missing?

H
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88 - 91 FM this is Radio 2 from the BBC!

I said it live on air in the studio with Jeremy Vine on 10/3/2005

Toggy tea slurper · Guest

As much as I sympathise with the Macann's I'm afriad they are begining to look like attention seekers.
There has actually been no developments in this sad story for at least 2 weeks but still the media are going on and on about it.

Cherskiy · Posted: Tue May 29, 2007 11:20 am Post subject:

It makes you wonder why this particular family have been singled out for the sort of media frenzy that we're seeing now - as Helen says, what makes them so different from the other families who have had young children abducted in recent years?
_________________
Author: “To the Ends of the Earth: A Snapshot of Aviation in North-Eastern Siberia, Summer 1992”
(Free to read via Kindle Unlimited)

gfloyd · Posted: Tue May 29, 2007 11:26 am Post subject:

Helen May · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19382 Location: Cheshire

I think you've hit the nail on the head there, when you say 'quite well connected and well to do'.

H
_________________
88 - 91 FM this is Radio 2 from the BBC!

I said it live on air in the studio with Jeremy Vine on 10/3/2005

gfloyd · Posted: Tue May 29, 2007 11:35 am Post subject:

Toggy tea slurper · Guest

Well as I said before there is nothing new to report so yes, it is boring.

gfloyd · Posted: Tue May 29, 2007 11:54 am Post subject:

Helen May · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19382 Location: Cheshire

Toggy tea slurper · Guest

There is nothing like blanket coverage of the Alan Johnston abduction as you well know . Do you see his parents going off to meet the pope or calling themselves 'team Johnston' Quite correct there is nothing to report so they are not doing so, there is nothing to report in the Mcann case and yet it's still blanket coverage, I just wonder why that's all.

I'm staying out of this thread now, it's making me feel sad Crying or Very sad

Helen May · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19382 Location: Cheshire

Toggy I agree with you about Alan Johnston.

I'll just add that we are in a bit of limbo as far news is concerned. No one wants to read about Tony Blair anymore, and Brown isn't ensconsed in No 10 yet. Had this abduction occurred on or around 27th June we would be seeing it reported somewhat differently by the press.

H
_________________
88 - 91 FM this is Radio 2 from the BBC!

I said it live on air in the studio with Jeremy Vine on 10/3/2005

gfloyd · Posted: Tue May 29, 2007 2:57 pm Post subject:

I just feel uneasy about jumping on a bandwagon attacking the family in a time when they must be feeling terrible. Sure, some of the media may have acted inappropriately but how can the family control everything that every journalist does.
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His name was ernie ........ and he drove the fastest milk cart in the west.....

Cherskiy · Posted: Tue May 29, 2007 3:24 pm Post subject:

gfloyd · Posted: Tue May 29, 2007 3:30 pm Post subject:

But Cherskiy,

this arguement about what about so & so not getting the same coverage is a classic arguement to do nothing about anything. People use it to absolve their responsibility to react to anything.
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His name was ernie ........ and he drove the fastest milk cart in the west.....

Cherskiy · Posted: Tue May 29, 2007 7:53 pm Post subject:

Ernie,

I think you misunderstand me. I'm not advocating that people do nothing - I've actually got nothing but praise for the people who are doing things off their own backs to publicise this case. E-mails have gone around the world, people have set up websites and given out posters, many of whom have no connection whatsoever with the family. That's rather amazing in this day and age. What I'm concerned about is that what happens with the next missing youngster - will we have the same level of coverage each time? Somehow, I doubt it given how fickle the news is, but the media have set a precedent here.

Missing persons cases deserve equal treatment, but they don't get it. People go missing in Britain each month, whether down to foul play or someone running away from home, it's one of those sad facts of life, but not many cases are lucky enough to benefit from such blanket coverage. That's not saying we shouldn't give publicity to missing persons cases as an absolution of responsibility, far from it, just that we do need some sort of equal coverage. I can envisage a family in the UK whose child goes missing wondering why they're not as newsworthy as this case, especially if its a news-heavy week and their story gets shunted towards the back of the queue.
_________________
Author: “To the Ends of the Earth: A Snapshot of Aviation in North-Eastern Siberia, Summer 1992”
(Free to read via Kindle Unlimited)

Behind Geddon's Wall · Posted: Wed May 30, 2007 2:38 pm Post subject:

I see that they've been to see the guy in charge of the Church of Rome, who blessed the picture of the girl ( a cynical so-what). Would they have been given seats ad honoured guests if there had not been the publicity?

Frankly, I've now got to the stage where I'm no longer bothered.
_________________
Geddon

You simply mustn't blame yourself -- the days were perfect
And so were exactly what I was born to spoil
For I am the Rider to the World's End
Bound across the cinder causeway
From the furnace to the quarry
Through the fields of oil